Thirteen States Raise Pay For Minimum-Wage Workers

January 2, 2014

The minimum wage rose in 13 states as 2013 drew to a close. As many as 11 states and Washington, D.C., are expected to consider increases in 2014, and approval is likely in more than half of the 11, according to the National Employment Law Project, says USA Today.

On January 1, state minimum wages became higher than the federal requirement of $7.25 an hour in 21 states, up from 18 two years ago.

The National Employment Law Project expects another nine states to drift above the federal minimum by the end of 2014, marking the first time minimum pay in most states will be above the federal level.

Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island legislatures voted to raise the minimum hourly wage by as much as $1, to $8 to $8.70 by the 1st.